Chapter 15

Alex

W e sat quietly in the Range Rover, the engine's hum the only sound between us. The parking lot of Fireside Forge Brewery was nearly empty, the evening settling in with a quiet finality. Finn's words echoed in my mind, each syllable hitting harder than I anticipated.

"I can't sell Fireside Forge."

I turned to look at him, searching his face for any hint of doubt or hesitation, but all I saw was resolve. Finn's decision was firm, and I knew pressing the issue would only strain the fragile bond we were building. "Thanks for understanding," he said, his voice soft, eyes filled with gratitude.

"Of course," I replied, forcing a smile. "I respect your decision, Finn. Fireside Forge means a lot to you, and I won't put any pressure on you to sell it."

Finn leaned closer to me, and a moment later, he brushed his lips across mine. When we pulled away, Finn's shy demeanor caught me off guard. He nervously fidgeted with the sleeve of his shirt as he spoke. "I... I really want to see you again," he said, his gaze avoiding mine.

A smile split my face. Despite our rocky start, there was something between us I couldn't deny. "I'd like that," I replied softly, meeting his eyes and giving him a reassuring smile.

He flashed a crooked grin, and I leaned in for one last kiss.

"Goodnight, Finn," I murmured, then Finn got out of the car and strolled towards the brewery entrance. I watched his silhouette disappear into the warm glow of the building, and a mix of emotions swirled inside me. The evening had taken an unexpected turn, but there was a spark between Finn and me I couldn't ignore. As I drove away from Fireside Forge, the memory of his lips on mine lingered, and so did his words.

"He wants to see me again." I glanced at my reflection in the rearview mirror and saw that I was grinning like an idiot. Feeling like this was worth so much more than buying the brewery.

I navigated through the winding streets of Richmond, my mind replaying the moments I'd just shared with Finn. Every smile, every touch, every kiss. It was all so new and exhilarating. As much as I had been fixated on acquiring Fireside Forge, the prospect of building something with Finn now seemed infinitely more valuable.

The sky darkened as I crossed the city limits, heading towards my home in the country. The hum of the tires on the road provided a soothing backdrop to my swirling thoughts. Finn's face, his laughter, the way he looked at me with those deep, sincere eyes—I couldn't get any of it out of my head. This was uncharted territory for me, feeling such a deep connection with another man.

"I've never felt like this before," I whispered to myself, then I turned on the radio and, of course, a sappy love song was playing. Normally I'd switch it to another channel, like the news, or a talk show. Instead, I turned up the volume and found myself singing along.

When I finally turned on to my driveway, my house came into view. The familiar sight usually brought a sense of calm, but tonight something was off. My heart sank when I saw the sleek, black Mercedes parked in my driveway. I knew that car all too well.

My ex-wife, Miranda.

I parked next to her car and took a deep breath, trying to prepare myself for whatever drama she was about to bring into my life. My mind raced with possibilities—none of them pleasant. I stepped out of the car and approached the front door, where Miranda was waiting, her perfectly manicured nails tapping impatiently on the doorframe.

"Alex," she greeted me with a strained smile. "We need to talk."

"Miranda," I replied, my voice tight. "What are you doing here?"

"Can I come in?" she asked, not waiting for an answer as she brushed past me into the house. Her blonde hair was cut into a perfect chin-length bob, and if my eyes weren't mistaken, her face was fuller. Most likely injectables of some kind.

I closed the door behind her and followed her into the living room, where she made herself comfortable on the sofa. I stood, arms crossed, waiting for her to get to the point.

"Make it quick, Miranda. It's been a long day," I said, trying to keep my irritation in check.

"The cottage still looks the same, Alex," Miranda began, her eyes sweeping the room with a critical gaze. "Have you ever thought about redecorating? It's a bit…quaint, don't you think?"

I gritted my teeth, forcing a polite smile. "I like it the way it is, Miranda."

She nodded, her expression one of feigned interest. "I suppose it has its charm. But with all your connections in D.C., it's surprising you'd want to hide away in the countryside. Don't you miss the hustle and bustle?"

"I enjoy the peace and quiet," I replied, my patience wearing thin.

"Peace and quiet," she mused, a hint of condescension in her tone. "I suppose that's one way to put it. But really, Alex, living out here all alone? It must get dreadfully boring."

"Not at all," I said, my voice tight. "I find it quite fulfilling."

Miranda's eyes flicked to a vase on the mantel, her lips curling in a slight sneer. "Well, to each their own, I suppose. Personally, I couldn't stand being so isolated. I thrive on the energy of the city, the constant movement, the networking opportunities."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my frustration in check. "Miranda, why are you here?"

She turned to face me, her expression shifting to one of mock innocence. "Can't I just drop by to see how my ex-husband is doing?"

"Cut the crap, Miranda," I said, my patience finally snapping. "What do you really want?"

She sighed dramatically, leaning back against the sofa cushions. "Fine, if you insist on being so blunt. I'm in a bit of a financial bind, Alex. And I need your help."

I crossed my arms, staring her down. "What kind of financial bind?"

She hesitated, her confident demeanor faltering for a moment. "I've… made some poor investments, and now I'm in over my head. I need an advance on my alimony."

I raised an eyebrow. "An advance? How much are we talking?"

"Just enough to get me back on my feet," she said, her tone pleading now. "A couple hundred thousand should do it."

I couldn't help but laugh, though there was no humor in it. "A couple hundred thousand? Miranda, you've got to be kidding me. What exactly did you invest in?"

She looked away, unable to meet my eyes. "It doesn't matter. The point is, I need your help."

I shook my head, feeling a mix of anger and pity. "I don't have that kind of money lying around, Miranda. And even if I did, why should I give it to you?"

Her eyes flashed with desperation. "Because I'm in trouble, Alex. Real trouble."

"Then maybe it's time you faced the consequences of your actions," I said, my voice cold. "Look, I'll consider it if we can renegotiate the terms of your alimony. I only have two more years of payments. If you'd consider shaving a year off, maybe I can help you."

"An entire year?" Miranda stood and crossed the room to me. "Six months is the best I can do." She held out her hand for me to shake, and I ignored it. Something fishy was going on, and I wanted to know more.

"Why don't I write you a check now for next month's payment, then have your attorney contact mine and we'll renegotiate the financial settlement through them?" I turned and headed toward my home office with Miranda on my heels.

"Thank you, but…"

"What is it?" I turned around and scowled at her. "I thought we'd never lay eyes on each other again. Swear to God you are the most…" I balled up my fists and continued down the hallway. If I'd finished my sentence, it would've made things worse. Miranda was a tiresome woman on the best of days, and provoking her wasn't worth it.

"I need more than that," Miranda whined. "And I don't want to get lawyers involved. You have all the money, and all the power and prestige that comes with it. Please don't make me beg."

I took a moment to compose myself before turning back to face Miranda. Despite everything, I couldn't deny that a part of me still cared for her well-being. But years of dealing with her manipulative ways had taught me to be cautious.

"Fine, Miranda," I said finally, my voice softer. "I'll help you this one time. But know that this doesn't mean we're getting back together or that I owe you anything more."

Miranda's face lit up with relief, and she reached out to hug me. I stiffened at the touch, but forced myself to reciprocate before pulling away.

"Thank you, Alex. You won't regret this," she said earnestly, a hint of vulnerability in her usually steely gaze.

"We'll see about that," I replied, already dreading the complications her presence would bring into my life once again.

I walked into my office with Miranda trailing behind me. It was a mess, papers and books scattered all over the place. I always worked better in chaos. It kept me on my toes.

"Have a seat," I gestured to the chair across from my desk. "Let me see how much cash I have on hand to give you."

I turned on the desktop computer and opened my bank account app. I quickly scanned through my accounts and saw that I had more than enough funds to cover the next three months of alimony payments.

I took out my checkbook from the top drawer and scribbled down an amount for three months' worth of alimony. This would give Miranda some time to figure things out and hopefully she wouldn't come back asking for more.

"I can advance you three months' worth of alimony, but that's all," I said sternly as I handed her the check.

Miranda's face fell, disappointment etched in every line. She opened her mouth to speak, but I held up a hand to stop her.

"This is not up for negotiation," I stated firmly. "You'll have to figure out the rest on your own."

She looked like she wanted to argue further, but thought better of it as she pocketed the check and stood up from her seat.

"Thank you, Alex," she murmured. "If you don't mind, I'm going to stay the night."

"That's not a good idea."

Miranda stood in front of me, pleading with her big brown eyes. I could see desperation and hopelessness in her gaze, despite the fa?ade of strength she always tried to maintain.

"Alex, please," she begged. "It's getting late, and if I drive back to DC, it'll be almost three in the morning before I get home."

"No," I shook my head, wondering what on earth she was up to. Miranda circled around my desk and sat on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"I know we have some things to work through, but can't you just let me stay here for one night? It's getting late and I don't have anywhere else to go," she whispered seductively, then she leaned in for a kiss. I pushed her away and stood up from my chair. Miranda fell to the floor in a heap, looking up at me with hurt and confusion in her eyes. Or was that the humiliation of not being wanted?

"Never touch me again," I growled, unable to contain my anger any longer. "Just because I helped you, that doesn't mean I owe you anything."

Miranda stood up slowly, brushing off imaginary dust from her clothes. She looked small and lost standing there in the middle of my messy office.

"Please Alex," she pleaded once again. "I'll sleep on the couch or even on the floor. Just give me a chance."

"That's your problem, Miranda," I said coolly. "You should have thought about where you would stay before coming here this late in the evening."

She looked defeated but still refused to back down.

"But it's dark outside and there aren't any hotels nearby," she argued weakly.

"You'll figure something out," I replied. "Drive into Richmond, there are plenty of hotels there." I took her by the elbow and walked her out of my office. "If you don't leave, I'll cancel that check, and trust me, I won't write another one."

Miranda's face went blank for a moment, and I realized that whatever was wrong with her, it went far deeper than over spending. Something was very wrong with her.

When we got to the foyer, she tried to snake her arm around my waist, but I stepped away and opened the front door. "Time to go," I said firmly. But she still wouldn't take no for an answer. With a sly smile, she leaned in close, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispered seductively.

"I've missed you, Alex. Why can't we have one last night together for old time's sake?"

"Miranda, please, stop this," I breathed. "You're embarrassing yourself."

"You really are gay," she said with a hint of disdain in her voice. "I thought it was just a rumor, or perhaps a phase you were going through."

I said nothing in response, just pushed her out the door and quickly shut and locked it behind her. Then I pulled out my phone and set a reminder for tomorrow morning.

Call Summer and ask her for the name and number of the private investigator she used when she divorced her first husband.